Plant once and harvest for years: Here are 8 smart ideas

Angela Brown

Contributing Writer

Real Farmacy

If you love the idea of growing your own food in the garden, but you hate the idea of having to replant a new crop every season, you're in luck. We're going to show you eight foods you can grow in your garden, and you only have to plant them once!

Whether you have a little space or a lot of land, growing these self-reproducing veggies, fruits and herbs is sure to keep your grocery bill a little lower for years to come.

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1. RaspberriesRaspberry bushes come in a range of colors, from red to purple, black and even gold. They're fairly low maintenance, and you can grow a massive amount of berries with minimal work. Check out a full tutorial on growing this tasty fruit from Mother Earth News.

2. AsparagusThis heart-healthy veggie is easy to grow, and they look great in the back of flowering gardens too. It's important to note that while these will grow every year, it takes three to four years before you get a sizable harvest. Stick it out for a few seasons, and you'll have plenty more for years to come. Learn more about growing asparagus from Bonnie Plants.

3. TomatoesTomatoes might be the most popular food you can grow over and over. Not only are these easy to grow, you can split your plants to get more every year if you want. Check out a few creative ways to grow tomatoes (even in small spaces) here.

4. KaleKale provides a bounteous harvest every year. You can remove individual leaves or take up the whole plant. If you do choose to harvest the whole thing, just cut the stalk so that about 2 inches remains above the soil. You'll see new leaves in a few weeks. Get more information about growing kale from Gentle World.

5. RhubarbPlant and then harvest lightly for a few years. Be careful: The leaves of this plant are poisonous in large quantities. This plant is also picky about water and temperature. You'll need to do some dividing at the end of the season to keep grow rates high. Check out a few simple tips for growing rhubarb from The Old Farmer's Almanac.

6. StrawberriesStrawberries, like raspberries, can produce a lot of fruit for a long time. You might not get too much fruit the first season, but eventually the plants will give you more than enough fruit to fill your tummy (and your jam jars!). You can also splice the plants to create more as needed. Get strawberry-growing tips from Sunset.

7. PineapplesPineapple is the sweet fruit that keeps on giving. While starting a pineapple plant can take a season or two, once you get a few underway, you can keep growing pineapples to your heart's content. Make sure to keep the soil barely moist, and plant them in plenty of sunlight. Learn a few more tips from Gracious Gardening.

8. ArtichokesIf you plant Jerusalem artichokes, be prepared. This plant won't only grow back every year; it can be outright invasive. You'll want to choose where you plant this veggie carefully. Learn more about growing artichokes from Mother Earth News.

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If you're excited to start planting, don't forget to share these ideas with all of your garden-loving friends on Facebook. ​